Biography of Cornelius Smelt 1748-1832

In August 1748 Cornelius Smelt was born to William Smelt (age 58).

On 14th September 1755 [his father] William Smelt (age 65) died. He was buried in the Smelt Family Vault St Mary's Church, Kirkby, Fleetham.

On 2nd March 1772 Cornelius Smelt (age 23) was promoted to Lieutenant of the 14th Regiment of Foot.

On 9th July 1776 Cornelius Smelt (age 27) was gazetted to the 35th (Royal Sussex) Regiment of Foot with whom he saw action in various campaigns during the American War of Independence.

On 6th October 1785 Cornelius Smelt (age 37) and Mary Trant Otley (age 22) were married at Richmond, North Yorkshire [Map].

On 17th July 1787 Cornelius Smelt (age 38), as a captain, was assigned as Deputy Governor of Southsea Castle [Map].

After 1797. All Saints Church, Thirkleby, North Yorkshire [Map]. Grave slab of [his wife] Mary Trant Otley (age 34), wife of Cornelius Smelt (age 48), aunt of Dorothy Smelt Lady Thirkleby (age 47).

Mary Trant Otley: Around 1763 she was born. On 6th October 1785 Cornelius Smelt and she were married at Richmond, North Yorkshire [Map]. On 5th October 1797 she died. She was buried at All Saints Church, Thirkleby, North Yorkshire [Map] on 9th October 1797.

On 5th October 1797 [his wife] Mary Trant Otley (age 34) died. She was buried at All Saints Church, Thirkleby, North Yorkshire [Map] on 9th October 1797.

On 4th June 1801 Cornelius Smelt (age 52) and Anne Hale (age 33) were married.

On 15th June 1805 Cornelius Smelt (age 56) served as Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man, which positin he held for life, the longest governorship in the history of the Island.

On 10th August 1826 Cornelius Smelt (age 78) attended a meeting at the George Inn, Castletown, there being present some of the highest officials then residing in Castletown, Chairman of the meeting being Colonel Mark Wilks. At the meeting a resolution was passed to commission a portrait of Governor Smelt by Thomas Barber (age 55). The portrait was purchased by Captain Caesar Bacon, husband of Smelt's daughter, and was placed in his home at Seafield, Santon. The portrait stayed in the family until 1925 when it was presented to the Manx Museum.

In 28th November 1832 Cornelius Smelt (age 84) died in office at Castle Rushen [Map]. He was buried under the altar at St Mary's Church, Castletown [Map].

On 5th December 1853 [his former wife] Anne Hale (age 85) died.

Around 1985 St Mary's Church, Castletown [Map] was deconsecrated. The remains of Cornelius Smelt were exhumed and reinterred in the Bacon family vault alongside his daughter at St Peter's Church in Onchan.